Search warrant is a document issued by a court to permit a police officer to search a house, automobile, locker, or any other specified place. It is issued if there is reasonable cause to believe that illegal materials, such as gambling devices, burglar tools, or illegal drugs, are hidden there. A search warrant may also be issued to search for people.
In the Constitution of the United States, Amendment 4 states that no unreasonable searches or seizures may be made. The cause of search must be supported by oath. The search warrant must describe the place to be searched and what is to be seized in the search. The United States Supreme Court, however, allows some exceptions. In 1982, the court ruled that police do not need a search warrant to accompany an arrested person into the person’s home or to seize any possible criminal evidence in sight there. In 1984, the court declared that evidence obtained with a search warrant later ruled to be defective may be used in court if the police reasonably believed they followed proper procedures in obtaining the search warrant.
Before 1760, search warrants in England and America were issued only to locate concealed stolen goods. In England, searches and seizures became so great an issue, and were finally so restricted, that it led to the saying that “every man’s home is his castle.”
